POLYCARBONATE WITH FUNCTIONALIZED GRAPHITE NANOFIBERS (GNF) AND THE STUDY OF ITS THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

The present study described the process of producing polycarbonate with functionalized graphite nanofiber (GNF) composite and its properties. To improve the solubility of GNF, it will have to go through functionalization which is also known as oxidation. Before functionalization, the GNF have to undergo acid wash process to eliminate metal catalyst in the raw GNF at the same time removing impurities and increase the purity. Acid wash was done by using 2 Molar (M) ofhydrochloric acid and 1hour ofstirring using a mechanical stirrer. After metal elimination process, the GNF was functionalized for 4 hours in 4M nitric acid by using double sonication system; which was using both
ultrasonic bath and ultrasonic probe at the same time, to increase efficiency. The acid treatment chemically modified the hydrophobic and inert nature of the surface of raw
GNF by attaching functional group such as carboxyl group (COOH) which were
detected by using Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopy (FTIR) analysis. The morphology and surface of the GNF were studied from Field Emission Scanning
Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Then, the enhance polymer plastic were prepared by solution blending method. Dispersion of GNF within the polymer was observed by
microscopic imaging. The study then investigated into the mechanical and thermal properties of the polycarbonate-GNF by Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Universal Testing Machine. For this research, 0.5wt% gives the better dispersion without aggregation and a significant increase in the properties compared to the samples of lwt% and 2wt% where the fibers agglomerate; decreasing the nano-composites potential.